That’s just how sword cultivators are!

Within the Cloud Palace, a system of rewards and punishments naturally existed. The matter of punishments need not be discussed for now; as for rewards, there were numerous, and even a special item called the "Palace Law Sword" was devised for this very purpose.

This so-called "Palace Law Sword" was akin to the Taiyi Jade Hook, yet it could only be used within the Cloud Palace. Still, the "Palace Law Sword" had its own unique qualities. With it, one could exchange for many rare and precious treasures: books on immortal examinations, wondrous elixirs, and even quotas for the immortal examinations—all attainable through the sword.

Thus, the "Palace Law Sword" was highly esteemed within the Cloud Palace. Even cultivators from other sects coveted a piece of it. But leaving aside the fact that only the Cloud Palace’s own disciples could obtain it, acquiring one was a feat in itself, demanding nothing less than contributions of great merit.

And what counted as a great contribution? Presenting rare immortal treasures to the Cloud Palace’s upper echelons.

By this standard, the demonic sword that could serve as the first "female protagonist’s" artifact would certainly qualify as an immortal treasure, worthy of the Golden Core masters and even the Nascent Soul elders’ regard.

If so, he could exchange it for ancient tomes containing insights on the cultivation of the Path of Lunar Yin. Groping along the cultivation path alone would easily lead to bottlenecks, and once those arose, even with the advantage of a second talent, progress might grind to a halt.

After all, the first and second talents would only yield results if his cultivation bore fruit.

Xiao Qingpei had originally intended to seek out such resources on his own. But now that he had come to the Cloud Palace, where else could he more easily acquire such training materials than this superlative sect?

Moreover, anything collected by the Cloud Palace was guaranteed to be genuine, and without a doubt, they would be the most exquisite selections.

Xiao Qingpei walked toward the Sword Dao Stele. This was no secret within the Cloud Palace, and those within hardly cared about it. Even in Cloudmud City, its main purpose was to inspire the disciples’ drive for cultivation.

Indeed, the legend of the ancient sword immortal tied to the Sword Dao Stele sounded lofty, but upon closer thought, it was completely unreliable. If it truly had such an illustrious origin, would these lowly Qi Condensation cultivators still have access to it? Wouldn’t those great masters have long since seized it for themselves?

Among the disciples residing in Cloudmud City, this was an unspoken understanding. For this reason, it finally fell to the first "female protagonist" ten years later—before that, no one even knew of it, until her sword astounded the world.

With feet upon a gray-blue cloud, hands clasped behind his back, Xiao Qingpei flew from his cave dwelling in the Cloud Palace, soared over cliffs and precipices, braving the cold wind that struck his face, and descended straight down.

His movement was immediately noticed.

It was Liu Haoxing and Lin Chunyì, both of whom had been closely observing Xiao Qingpei’s movements lately.

“He’s gone to Cloudmud City?”

“What’s he doing there?”

Xiao Qingpei’s actions perplexed Liu Haoxing and Lin Chunyì, for this did not match their initial expectations. Still, after some consideration, they reported Xiao Qingpei’s trip to Cloudmud City to the Xu family—partly to curry favor, partly to demonstrate their diligence.

They were doing their utmost to stir up conflict between Xiao Qingpei and the Cloud Palace sword cultivators.

Because of their tip-off, as soon as Xiao Qingpei entered Cloudmud City, he was intercepted.

Xiao Qingpei was somewhat surprised to see the three who blocked his way. He did not recognize them, but of the trio, two harbored ill will toward him, while the third merely played along—his severe countenance suggesting implacable enmity, yet he alone bore Xiao Qingpei no malice.

This incongruity made Xiao Qingpei study him with a second glance. Broad-shouldered and powerfully built, with a fierce visage, yet something about his appearance felt off to Xiao Qingpei, as if it were a mask.

At that moment, as Xiao Qingpei openly scrutinized them, one of the others—a youth with a perpetually smiling face—spoke up: “Are you Senior Brother Xiao?”

“Aren’t you tired of pretending?” Xiao Qingpei asked directly. After all, in his current “sword cultivator” identity, his words and actions had to reflect the clarity of one who had attained the state of Sword-heart Illumination.

“Senior Brother Xiao, what do you mean by that?” The youth’s expression froze; a flash of savagery crossed his eyes, though his smile remained.

“You’re a sword cultivator too, aren’t you?” Xiao Qingpei asked, glancing at the sword pouch at the youth’s waist. Why put on such an act when all here were sword cultivators of the Sword-heart Illumination realm?

I know you dislike me, and you know I dislike you—so why not speak plainly? Whether to fight or to reconcile, why all the pretense? Xiao Qingpei couldn’t help but mutter inwardly.

“Of course I’m a sword cultivator! Xiao Qingpei, what’s that supposed to mean?” The youth could no longer keep up the act and shouted, for Xiao Qingpei’s words struck at his sore point.

He was a sword cultivator, but had barely passed the threshold. Without the Xu family’s backing, he’d not only be excluded from the Cloud Palace swordsmen’s circle, he wouldn’t even have a spot in the Foundation Establishment examination!

“If you’re a sword cultivator, you must have Sword-heart Illumination. If so, why all this hiding and pretense? Do you think I’ll believe your nonsense?” Xiao Qingpei replied matter-of-factly.

“Pfft—cough, cough!” The burly, fierce-looking man nearly burst out laughing, hastily stifling it but still choking on his own breath.

The youth, however, didn’t notice, his face growing redder by the moment, eyes nearly spitting fire.

Yet, for a moment, he didn’t know how to retort.

If he cursed, he’d disgrace the Xu family, and if his narrow-minded elder brother, Xu Jiansheng, heard of it, he’d surely be punished.

But how could he admit he’d only just entered the sword path?

The third man, who had thus far remained silent and bore Xiao Qingpei ill will, suddenly spoke up: “Xiao Qingpei, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“How is it nonsense? Aren’t all sword cultivators at the Sword-heart Illumination realm?” Xiao Qingpei asked in genuine surprise. All accounts he’d heard described sword cultivators as such.

Though Sword-heart Illumination was a profound level in the sword path, for the Cloud Palace’s sword cultivators, surely it was not difficult to attain?

Hearing these words, both the three before him and the bystanders who had come to watch all stared at him in utter shock and disbelief.

Who the hell told you all sword cultivators had reached Sword-heart Illumination?